Indexing device



May 11 1926.

A. MENGER INDEXING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1925 REFUNBED OR nPPLiEu n. w w 6 N u w 5 5 E m O R RDDRE55 CHANGES DRTE INVENTOR flows TNENGE/i;

WITNESSES BY J ATTORNEYS iii lit? ll, 1926.

siren AUGUST MENGER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

INDEXING DEVICE.

App1ication filed May 28, 1925. Serial No. 33,522.

My present invention relates generally to indexing devices, and more particularly to name indexes, my object being the provision of simple inexpensive means permitting of the ready and easy location of any desired name card in the index without the necessity of thumbing over a series of cards, as is necessary at the present time.

lviy invention presents means in connection with a name card whereby the card may be picked out of a series of cards by the initials of the given and middle names without interferring with the proper indexing of a card having no middle name, and a still further object of my invention is the provision of means which may be applied in the first instance with minimum trouble and without waste of time.

in the accompanying drawing which illustrates my present invention and forms a part of this specification Figure 1 is a face view of a name card, as constructed and utilized according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the card on a line centrally through the edge tab, and,

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the edge tab.

Referring now to these figures, I have shown in Fig. 1 an index card 10, which may be of any suitable or desired arrangement in so far as the indexed matter is concerned, so long the card is a name card. In the present card I have shown a space at 11 "for the name and I have also shown the upper longitudinal edge of the card as provided with a lengthwise series of the letters of the alphabet, preferably set off in blocks, as shown at 12.

With the card so constructed, a tab or signal is used having an upstanding letter bearing portion 13, the letter of which is indicated at 14, it being obvious that various tabs are provided with different letters throughout the alphabet, and that in practice they may be colored so as to more readily distinguish various classifications. In addition to the upright letter bearing portion 11, the tab has a body portion 15, with an extension 16 bent back thereon in parallel relation to form with the body 15 a clasp adapted to engage the edge of the card and support the tab in adjusted position. It is preferable that the upstanding letter bearing portion 13 be'stamped out of the exten sion 16, so that the latter thus presents a sight opening 1'? through which one of the divisions of the alphabetical series of letters 12 will be in full view through this sight opening when the tab is placed upon the edge of the card, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Thus there results for consideration in the indexing of the card, the letter 14 on the tab, as well as the letter of the series 12 exposed in the positioning of the tab on the card edge through the sight opening 17 of the front extension 16 of the tab.

It is apparent from this that the card of Arthur B. Smith as illustrated in Fig. 1 placedin the card index under the proper main division of the latter, will be employed along with a tab bearing the letter A and placed onthe indexing alphabet along the upper edge of the card so as to expose the letter B of this alphabet. Thus in the series of Smith cards, for instance, a tab A in the B position on the card may be instantly picked out of the remainder of the Smith cards without thumbing over a series thereof. I

This does not interfere with the proper indexing of names each consisting solely of a surname and a given name, or of cards where the given name and the middle name present the same initial. For instance, Thomas Smith-would he provided with a T tab located in the T position on the card just the same as if the name had been Thomas T. Smith.

It is obvious that in the first instance it is simply necessary to use a tab having the proper letter and slip the same upon the edge of the card in the correct position when the card is instantly ready to be placed in the index, and it is likewise obvious that in thereafter seeking any particular card so indexed it becomes'an easy simple matter to find the same and much time wasted in the ordinary card indexes will be avoided.

I claim In combinatlon, an index card for arrangement in an index according to a surname on the card and having along its upper edge letters of the alphabet arranged in a series, and a tab for engagement With the said upper edge of the card in adjustable position therealong, having an upstanding portion bearing a letter Corresponding to the initial of the given name of the card and arranged to expose, in vertical line with the said letter bearing portion, a letter on the upper alphabet of the card corresponding to the initial of the middle name of the card.

AUGUST MENGER. 

